badmotorscooter said:
My meaning was why NM isn't traveled like AZ using elevation to remain in a mild climate through the seasons? The lowest elevation is near Carlsbad where the daytime temps in winter are about 10 degrees cooler than Quartzite.
In New Mexico, the warmer areas in the winter tends to be the SW quadrant, along I-10 around Deming and Lordsburg. There are lots of snowbirds who winter in that area. Not to the point of over-crowding, but they are there in large numbers. There are even some activites geared towards the retirees in that area all year long.
It's not always just about elevation. The Carlsbad area is lower in elevation, but also, is more 'inland' and subject to different weather patterns in the winter, including some occasional winter conditions.
And yes, there is plenty of BLM land, but there are also upward pressures on prices for lodging, RV spaces, and costs of goods, gasoline, food, etc, due to the booming Permian Basin oil economy in the area. Oilfield trucks are parked everywhere at night, including but not limited to, the Walmart parking lot.
Due to the transient nature of some of the workers in this industry, there is a bit higher level of...let me say it this way, 'riff-raff'.
I like the Carlsbad area, but services and facilities for retired snowbirds are less important to the local economy than what you will find in some other areas.
On the other hand, if you want to work, there are plenty of jobs in the area, unless oil prices decline for awhile, then it's 'lay-off' city.
